Additive for water-added bio fuel, water-added bio fuel, and method of producing the same

ABSTRACT

An additive for water-added bio fuel of the present invention includes: a surface active agent; glycol alcohol; alcohol synthesizable from biomass; and ammonia. A water-added bio fuel of the present invention is obtained such that water and the additive for water-added bio fuel according to the present invention are combined with a fuel oil in a predetermined ratio and that a particle of the water is made fine relative to the fuel oil so as to be dispersed and soluble in the fuel oil.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This international application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-231862 filed on Oct. 14, 2010 in the Japan Patent Office, and the entirety of Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-231862 is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an additive for water-added bio fuel, a water-added bio fuel using the additive for water-added bio fuel, and methods for producing the additive and the water-added bio fuel.

BACKGROUND ART

Recently, in view of high oil prices, depletion problem of fossil fuel being earth resources, and reduction in greenhouse effect gases, such as CO₂, or environmental pollutants emitted when using them and leading to the destruction of the global environment, research of fuel obtained by mixing water of proper quantity into a fuel oil, generally known as emulsion fuel, has been done actively.

Emulsion fuel is generally a fuel obtained by mechanically agitating a fuel oil (heavy oil, kerosene, gas oil, waste oil, etc.) added with water and surface active agent so as to disperse the water in the fuel oil, and is publicly known as a fuel effective to a certain degree to reduce a consumption amount of fuel and environmental pollutants associated thereto. Such emulsion fuel is known, for example, in Patent Documents 1 to 5 as follows:

PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS Patent Documents

Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2010-77418

Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-51939

Patent Document 3: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2008-150421

Patent Document 4: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2007-510046

Patent Document 5: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-188616

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

As described above, research and development of emulsion fuel have been conducted for a long period of time, and emulsion fuel is partly used on a trial basis.

However, in the aforementioned conventional emulsion fuel, fuel oil and water are separated in a relatively short period of time after production; most of the oil components move to the upper layer and most of the water components move to the lower layer, which may lead to a two-layer structure. Such emulsion fuel has various disadvantages or problems, such as difficulties in use of, in storage (storing), or in transporting, of the emulsion fuel having the two-layer structure, decrease in combustion efficiency, combustion calorie, or thermal efficiency due to hydrous influence, which may result in reducing fuel economy, corrosion of a combustion chamber, or the like.

Accordingly, although there is a case where the emulsion fuel is partly used on a trial basis, the current situation is such that use of the emulsion fuel has not yet been sufficiently widespread in the market due to the factors described above.

Object of the Present Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide an additive for water-added bio fuel, and a method of producing the same, by which water particles are fined and dispersed uniformly through the whole fuel oil, thereby inhibiting emulsifying and making soluble.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a water-added bio fuel that can be inhibited from being two-layer structured or having fuel oil and water separated and can be stored and transported over a long period of time with no quality degradation after production, and a method of producing the same. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a water-added bio fuel and a method of producing the same, by which combustion efficiency and combustion calorie can be enhanced compared to common fuel and emission of greenhouse effect gases, such as CO₂, or environmental pollutants can be reduced.

Means for Solving the Problems

The present invention, which has been made to solve the above-described problems, is as follows.

An additive for water-added bio fuel of the present invention includes: a surface active agent; glycol alcohol; alcohol synthesizable from biomass; and ammonia.

In the additive for water-added bio fuel of the present invention, the ammonia may be ammonia water, and a composition of the additive for water-added bio fuel may be 55 to 70 parts by weight of the surface active agent, 10 to 15 parts by weight of the glycol alcohol, 15 to 25 parts by weight of the alcohol synthesizable from biomass, and 5.5 to 8.8 parts by weight of the ammonia water (25% solution).

In the additive for water-added bio fuel of the present invention, a composition of the additive for water-added bio fuel may be: 55 to 70 parts by weight of the surface active agent; 10 to 15 parts by weight of the glycol alcohol; 15 to 25 parts by weight of the alcohol synthesizable from biomass; and 1.25 to 2.0 liter of the ammonia being dissolved in per 100 g of a solution that is obtained by mixing the 55 to 70 parts by weight of the surface active agent, the 10 to 15 parts by weight of the glycol alcohol, and the 15 to 25 parts by weight of the alcohol synthesizable from biomass.

In the additive for water-added bio fuel of the present invention, the surface active agent may be one type or a plurality of types of surface active agents selected from a fatty acid having a carbon number of 16 or more.

Moreover, the fatty acid having the carbon number of 16 or more may be selected from a group consisting of palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, margaric acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, vaccenic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, eleostearic acid, tuberculostearic acid, arachidic acid, arachidonic acid, behenic acid, lignoceric acid, nervonic acid, cerotic acid, montanoic acid, and melissic acid.

In the additive for water-added bio fuel of the present invention, the glycol alcohol may be one type or a plurality of types of glycol alcohols selected from a group consisting of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, and polyethylene glycol.

In the additive for water-added bio fuel of the present invention, the alcohol synthesizable from biomass may be one type, or a plurality of types of alcohol synthesizable from biomass, the alcohol synthesizable from biomass being selected from a group consisting of ethanol, methanol, propanol, and butanol.

A method of producing an additive for water-added bio fuel of the present invention includes steps of: mixing and agitating 55 to 70 parts by weight of a surface active agent, 10 to 15 parts by weight of glycol alcohol, and 15 to 25 parts by weight of alcohol synthesizable from biomass; and adding 5.5 to 8.8 parts by weight of ammonia water (25% solution) into a resulting mixed solution and further agitating and mixing the solution.

A water-added bio fuel of the present invention is obtained such that water and the additive for water-added bio fuel of the present invention are combined with a fuel oil, and a particle of the water is made fine relative to the fuel oil so as to be dispersed and soluble in the fuel oil.

In the water-added bio fuel of the present invention, the fuel oil may be one type of fuel oil selected from a group consisting of A-type heavy oil, gasoline, gas oil, lamp oil, kerosene, vegetable oil, and biodiesel fuel.

In the water-added bio fuel of the present invention, a composition of the water-added bio fuel may be 58 to 62 parts by weight of the fuel oil, 15 to 20 parts by weight of the additive for water-added bio fuel, and 18 to 27 parts by weight of the water.

A method of producing a water-added bio fuel of the present invention includes steps of: mixing and agitating 58 to 62 parts by weight of fuel oil and 15 to 20 parts by weight of the additive for water-added bio fuel according to any one of claims 1 to 7; and adding 18 to 27 parts by weight of water into a resulting mixed solution, and agitating and mixing the solution so as to make the water soluble in the fuel oil.

Effects of the Invention

The present invention can provide an additive for water-added bio fuel, the additive capable of making water particles fine, disperse water uniformly through a whole fuel oil, and inhibit emulsifying to make water soluble, and a method of producing the same.

Further, the present invention can provide a water-added bio fuel that can be stored and transported over a long period of time with no quality loss after production by inhibiting separation and a two-layer structure of a fuel oil and water, and can reduce emission of greenhouse effect gases, such as CO₂, and environmental pollutants while improving a combustion efficiency and combustion calorie, compared to a normal fuel, and a method of producing the same.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

An additive for water-added bio fuel and a water-added bio fuel using the additive for water-added bio fuel according to the present invention are described.

In the specification and the claims of the present application, the term “making soluble” includes a meaning that a substance, such as water, which is not dissolved in nature or is less subject to be dissolved in a solvent, becomes able to be dissolved in the solvent in the presence of a surface active agent.

Main properties of raw materials or components of the additive for water-added bio fuel and of the water-added bio fuel of the present invention are briefly described below.

Any of the raw materials or components have been in use for various uses at a general market, widely available, and relatively reasonable, thereby being easily prepared.

Although there are many kinds of surface active agents, a fatty acid is used in the present invention. There are various kinds of fatty acids having a carbon number of from 4 to 30. As a result of repeated trials and experiments by the inventor, it was found that a fatty acid having a carbon number of 16 or more is especially effective.

Examples of the fatty acid having the carbon number of 16 or more are palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, margaric acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, vaccenic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, eleostearic acid, tuberculostearic acid, arachidic acid, arachidonic acid, behenic acid, lignoceric acid, nervonic acid, cerotic acid, montanoic acid, melissic acid, etc. Among these fatty acids having the carbon number of 16 or more, it is preferable to use oleic acid, which is considered to be especially advantageous in availability and use in terms of an amount of distribution, price, etc. In the present invention, one kind of a surface active agent selected from a group consisting of these fatty acids having the carbon number of 16 or more may be used. Alternatively, plural kinds of surface active agents selected from the group consisting of these fatty acids having the carbon number of 16 or more may be mixed and used.

Examples of glycol alcohol are ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, etc. Among these glycol alcohols, it is preferable to use propylene glycol, which is considered to be especially advantageous in availability and use in terms of an amount of distribution, price, etc. In the present invention, one kind selected from the above-listed glycol alcohols may be used. Alternatively, plural kinds of glycol alcohols selected from the above-listed glycol alcohols may be mixed and used.

Moreover, examples of alcohol synthesizable from biomass are ethanol, methanol, propanol, butanol, etc. Among these alcohols synthesizable from biomass, it is preferable to use ethanol, which is considered to be especially advantageous in availability and use in terms of an amount of distribution, price, etc. In the present invention, one kind selected from the above-listed alcohols synthesizable from biomass may be used. Alternatively, plural kinds of alcohols selected from the above-listed alcohols synthesizable from biomass may be mixed and used.

Oleic acid is a liquid of pale yellow color or yellowish brown color and is a fatty acid included in animal and vegetable oils such as lard. Oleic acid does not dissolve in water, but dissolves in an organic solvent. Oleic acid is a main component of the additive for water-added bio fuel of the present invention. It is preferable to employ oleic acid having a freezing point of 8° C. or below in view of a freezing point of a resulting additive.

Propylene glycol is a colorless, tasteless, and odorless liquid having a hygroscopic property. Propylene glycol is used, for example, as a moisturizing agent, a lubricant, an emulsifier, an anti-freezing solution, etc.

Ethanol has general characteristics of alcohol and can be mixed with various solvents, such as a polar solvent including water, various organic solvents including hydrocarbon, etc. Ethanol is used for sterilization and disinfection.

Ammonia is a colorless gas at ordinary temperature and pressure and has a peculiar, intense irritating odor. Since ammonia dissolves well in water, ammonia is often used as an aqueous solution (ammonia water).

Next, explanations will be given with respect to an operation (function) of each component of the additive for water-added bio fuel.

A surface tension of fuel oil is relatively small (weak), whereas a surface tension of water is relatively large (strong). The surface active agent serves to facilitate achieving an emulsified state by making the surface tensions of the fuel oil and water smaller and by agitating and mixing the fuel oil and the water.

Propylene glycol serves to enhance a modifying operation by which a degree of water surface tension is brought close to a fuel oil surface tension.

Ethanol serves, in contrast to propylene glycol, to enhance a modifying operation by which a degree of fuel oil surface tension is brought close to a water surface tension.

Ammonia (ammonia water) serves to make water particles fine, to combine the fuel oil with water, to make water soluble, and to have water enveloped in the fuel oil.

In production of the additive for water-added bio fuel, when the composition ratio of the surface active agent exceeds 70 parts by weight, the progress of the operation to make the surface tensions of the fuel oil and water smaller slows down, which is likely to inhibit the functions of other components. When the composition ratio of the surface active agent does not reach 55 parts by weight, it is likely not possible to make the surface tensions of the fuel oil and water sufficiently small. Accordingly, in either case, the water-added bio fuel using the additive for water-added bio fuel becomes easily emulsified.

When the composition ratio of the propylene glycol exceeds 15 parts by weight, it is likely that the aforementioned modifying operation, by which a degree of water surface tension is brought close to a fuel oil surface tension, slows down. When the composition ratio of the propylene glycol is less than 10 parts by weight, it is likely that the aforementioned modifying operation is not carried out enough. Accordingly, in either case, the water-added bio fuel using the additive for water-added bio fuel becomes easily emulsified.

When the composition ratio of the ethanol exceeds 25 parts by weight, it is likely that the aforementioned modifying operation, by which a degree of fuel oil surface tension is brought close to a water surface tension, slows down. When the composition ratio of the ethanol is less than 15 parts by weight, it is likely that the aforementioned modifying operation is not carried out enough. Accordingly, in either case, the water-added bio fuel using the additive for water-added bio fuel becomes easily emulsified.

Ammonia has the following property. In a case of ammonia water (25% solution), when the composition ratio thereof exceeds 8.8 parts by weight, it is likely that the aforementioned operation, which makes water particles fine, combine the fuel oil with water, make water soluble, and have water enveloped in the fuel oil, slows down. Moreover, in a case of ammonia, a dissolved amount of ammonia per 100 g of a solution obtained by mixing the surface active agent, the glycol alcohol, and the alcohol synthesizable from biomass exceeds 2.0 liter, it is likely that the aforementioned operation, which makes water particles fine, combine the fuel oil with water, make water soluble, and have water enveloped in the fuel oil, slows down. Furthermore, in the case of ammonia water (25% solution), when the composition ratio thereof is less than 5.5 parts by weight, it is likely that the aforementioned operation, which make water soluble and have water enveloped in the fuel oil, is not carried out enough. Moreover, in the case of ammonia, a dissolved amount of ammonia per 100 g of the solution obtained by mixing the surface active agent, the glycol alcohol, and the alcohol synthesizable from biomass is less than 1.25 liter, it is likely that the aforementioned operation, which make water soluble and have water enveloped in the fuel oil, is not carried out enough. Accordingly, in either case, the water-added bio fuel using the additive for water-added bio fuel becomes easily emulsified.

In production of the water-added bio fuel, when the composition ratio of the fuel oil is less than 58 parts by weight, it is likely not to be able to obtain combustion efficiency and combustion calorie sufficiently. When the composition ratio of the fuel oil is greater than 62 parts by weight, it is likely to increase an emission of environmental pollutants or greenhouse effect gases such as CO₂, which may lead to the destruction of the global environment.

The fuel oil to be used to produce the water-added bio fuel can be selected from A-type heavy oil, gasoline, gas oil, lamp oil, kerosene (which may be used as jet fuel), vegetable oil, and biodiesel fuel. The A-type heavy oil is one type of heavy oil and is classified by kinetic viscosity according to Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS). Moreover, the biodiesel fuel is also called as BDF (registered trademark) and is a general term for diesel engine fuels made from oils of biological origin. The biodiesel fuel is one of biomass energy. The biodiesel fuel is obtained by chemically treating fat, such as palm, Jatropha, waste cooking oil, etc., as a raw material to remove glycerin from the fat by transesterification, so that such fat can be used for diesel engines.

When the composition ratio of water exceeds 27 parts by weight, it is likely not to be able to obtain combustion efficiency and combustion calorie sufficiently. When the composition ratio of water is less than 18 parts by weight, it is likely to increase an emission of environmental pollutants or greenhouse effect gases such as CO₂, which may lead to the destruction of the global environment.

When the composition ratio of the additive for water-added bio fuel is less than 15 parts by weight, it is likely not to be able to make water soluble and to have water enveloped in the fuel oil by making water particles fine and by combining the fuel oil with water. Further, when the composition ratio of the additive for water-added bio fuel exceeds 20 parts by weight, it is likely not to be able to obtain a sufficient degree of combustion efficiency and combustion calorie with a relative decrease in the composition ratio of the fuel oil even if it is possible to make the water soluble and to envelop the water in the fuel oil.

The additive for water-added bio fuel is produced by the following steps: a step of mixing and agitating, in an agitator, 55 to 70 parts by weight of a surface active agent, 10 to 15 parts by weight of glycol alcohol, and 15 to 25 parts by weight of alcohol synthesizable from biomass; and thereafter, a step of mixing 5.5 to 8.8 parts by weight of ammonia water (25% solution) into the above resulting solution, and further agitating for a predetermined period of time to make such mixed components react to each other. Moreover, in the case that, not ammonia water, but ammonia (ammonia gas) is used, 1.25 to 2.0 liter of the ammonia per 100 g of a solution obtained by mixing the surface active agent, the glycol alcohol, and the alcohol synthesizable from biomass is dissolved in the solution. Reactions after mixing the ammonia water or the ammonia can be confirmed by generation of bubble-like substances in the solution and increase of a temperature of the solution to around 40 to 55° C.

The water-added bio fuel has the following composition ratio of a fuel oil, the additive for water-added bio fuel, and water: 58 to 62 parts by weight of the fuel oil; 15 to 20 parts by weight of the additive for water-added bio fuel; and 18 to 27 parts by weight of the water. Production of the water-added bio fuel is carried out through a step of mixing 58 to 62 parts by weight of the fuel oil and 15 to 20 parts by weight of the additive for water-added bio fuel and agitating such a mixture for a predetermined period of time, and a step of agitating and mixing while adding the mixed liquid obtained into 18 to 27 parts by weight of water, so as to make the water soluble and to have the water included.

Operation

The most significant element to make fuel oil and water separated or to make a two-layer structure after mixing the fuel oil and water in the presence of the surface active agent is a greater difference between the surface tensions of the fuel oil and water.

When the water-added bio fuel is produced by use of the additive for water-added bio fuel of the present invention, it appears to be possible to uniformly disperse the water particles in fuel oil particles by making the water particles fine so as to be enveloped and soluble, as a result of having degrees of surface tensions of the fuel oil and the water are brought to be the same or remarkably approximate to the same. This reason is not clear, but even if the reason is not correct, it does not have the faintest influence on achieving the present invention.

Regarding the water-added bio fuel of the present invention, it appears that water particles are made fine under the presence of the additive for water-added bio fuel and are made soluble in the fuel oil. Therefore, the water-added bio fuel does not become a state of an emulsion (emulsified), and has transparency equivalent to transparence of the fuel oil itself; furthermore, in the water-added bio fuel, the fuel oil and the water are not separated or do not make a two-layer structure as time elapses. Therefore, it is possible to keep a transparent state having no separation or two-layer structure even several years after production, i.e., a state where water particles are soluble in the fuel oil.

At a time of combustion of the water-added bio fuel, compared to a case where a commonly used fuel oil itself is used as fuel, the combustion is performed in a state closer to full burning. Therefore, it is possible to improve combustion efficiency or combustion calorie and to inhibit emission of greenhouse effect gases, such as CO₂, or environmental pollutants. This is found not only from the obtained data described later but also from the color or amount of soot in the furnace being a testing facility.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter. However, the present invention shall not be limited hereto.

Embodiment [Method of Producing Additive for Water-Added Bio Fuel]

In the present embodiment, oleic acid was used as a fatty acid having a carbon number of 16 or more, propylene glycol was used as glycol alcohol, and ethanol was used as alcohol synthesizable from biomass.

To produce the additive for water-added bio fuel, first, 1.30 kg (65 parts by weight) of oleic acid as a surface active agent, 0.24 kg (12 parts by weight) of propylene glycol, and 0.34 kg (17 parts by weight) of ethanol are put into and mixed in an agitating tank of an agitator to be agitated for 5 minutes. The agitation time may be arbitrarily adjusted depending on a composition ratio or quantity of each of the aforementioned components. The agitation time may be, for example, from 5 to 10 minutes.

After mixing the oleic acid, the propylene glycol, and the ethanol as described above, agitation and mixing are performed for 10 minutes while adding 0.12 kg (6 parts by weight) of ammonia water (25% solution) into the agitator. This agitation time may be, for example, from 5 to 10 minutes.

Thereafter, bubble-like substances are generated in a solution that is the aforementioned mixture. A temperature of the solution gradually increases to around 40 to 55° C. due to generation of reaction heat. Here, the temperature may go beyond the aforementioned temperature range depending on conditions such as an outside air temperature.

The above-described generation of the bubble-like substances in the solution and the above-described increase in the temperature of the solution are considered to represent the progress of chemical reaction, but the mechanism is not clear. As the agitation then continues for a while, the bubble-like substances gradually disappear and the temperature of the solution returns to its original temperature; this is considered to represent the end of the reaction. In this way, it was possible to produce 2.0 kg of the additive for water-added bio fuel.

The agitator used through the above-described production method can be any agitator or a publicly known agitator. An agitating method is represented by various ways, such as use of an agitator, a circulator pump, a line mixer, or the like. In the production method according to the present invention, agitation was performed by a simple way of circulating by means of a commercially available circulator pump. The agitating power, such as a pumping amount of the circulator pump, is not specifically limited, but heavy agitation, which may create air bubbles, is not needed.

[Method of Producing Water-Added Bio Fuel]

A method of producing a water-added bio fuel using the additive for water-added bio fuel produced as described above will be described next.

Using an agitator, 6.0 kg (60 parts by weight) of A-type heavy oil as a fuel oil and 2.0 kg (20 parts by weight) of the additive for water-added bio fuel produced as described above are mixed and agitated for five minutes. The agitation time is not limited hereto and may be arbitrarily adjusted depending on a composition ratio or quantity of each of the aforementioned raw materials. The agitation time may be, for example, from 5 to 10 minutes.

It is important that the additive for water-added bio fuel is mixed evenly and uniformly in the fuel oil by sufficiently agitating through the above-described agitating operation. By such even and uniform mixing, it is possible to disperse water, which is added after this, uniformly in the fuel oil, and to make the water soluble and be included therein.

Next, further agitation is performed while adding 2.0 kg (20 parts by weight) of water into the solution that is obtained by adding the additive for water-added bio fuel into the fuel oil and agitating the same. A time period for the further agitation is 10 minutes in the present embodiment; however, it is not limited hereto and may be arbitrarily adjusted depending on a composition ratio or quantity of each of the raw materials. This agitation time may be, for example, from 5 to 10 minutes.

Through the above described steps, water particles become fine and disperse uniformly in the fuel oil, and thus, the water particles are considered to be soluble and enveloped in the fuel, oil. Therefore, it was possible to produce 10.0 kg of the water-added bio fuel having transparency equivalent to transparency of the A-type heavy oil itself, which is the fuel oil as the raw material, without emulsification.

Regarding the order of mixing each component when producing the water-added bio fuel, it is important to first put the additive for water-added bio fuel into the fuel oil and then to put the water thereinto. If the additive for water-added bio fuel and the water are mixed directly with each other, such a mixture is sludgy and viscous; thus, it should be noted to make sure of the mixing order.

An agitator used for producing the water-added bio fuel is a line mixer in the present embodiment, but some other agitators may be used. For the water-added bio fuel using the additive for water-added bio fuel according to the present embodiment, a type of water being the raw material to be used is not specifically limited. That is, so-called hard water or soft water may be used, and regular tap water or well water also may be used.

Described below are the results of monitoring appearances of the water-added bio fuel with time according to the present embodiment. Used as a fuel being a comparative object was A-type heavy oil, which is a raw material of the water-added bio fuel of the present embodiment and is equivalent to a fuel oil used for fishing vessels.

Table 1 explains data indicating appearances of the A-type heavy oil and samples S1 and S2 of the water-added bio fuel according to the present embodiment. The samples S1 and S2 are different in terms of an elapsed time after producing the water-added bio fuel.

TABLE 1 Water-added Water-added Bio Fuel Bio Fuel Sample S1 Sample S2 A-type (immediately after (878 days elapsed Heavy Oil production) after production) Appearance Brownish-red Brownish-red and Blackish and transparent color, brownish-red and transparent slightly darker transparent color, color than A-type darker than Heavy Oil Sample S1 Separation — Not Found Not Found or Two-Layer Structure

[Analysis]

As seen from Table 1, the sample S1 immediately after production exhibited transparency that is not substantially different from transparency of the A-type heavy oil that is a fuel oil being a raw material. Moreover, although the sample S2 for which 878 days (about two years and five months) had elapsed after production exhibited a color darker than a color of the sample S1, the sample S2 maintained a transparent state. Further, the samples S1 and S2 both did not exhibit separation or two-layer structure of the A-type heavy oil being the fuel oil and the water. Thus, it has been found that the water-added bio fuel according to the present embodiment can be maintained at a state where no separation or two-layer structure of the fuel oil and the water is generated over a long period of time after production.

[Combustion Test]

The results of the combustion test of the water-added bio fuel of the present embodiment will be described below.

Used as a fuel being a comparative object was A-type heavy oil, which is a raw material of the water-added bio fuel of the present embodiment and is equivalent to a fuel oil used for fishing vessels.

The combustion test of the A-type heavy oil and the water-added bio fuel of the present embodiment was performed by use of a burner boiler. Data was measured at the Institute of Environment and Hygiene by use of a measurement method following Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS), such as the Orsat method, circular filter-paper method, chemiluminescence method, neutralization titration method, or the like.

Specifically, exhaust gas composition, such as CO₂, was measured by the Orsat method, a soot-and-dust density was measured by the circular filter-paper method, nitrogen oxide density was measured by the chemiluminescence method, sulfur oxide density was measured by the neutralization titration method, an amount of water was measured by a moisture absorption tube method, and an oxygen concentration was measured by a zirconia method.

The burner boiler used was a greenhouse heater SK-200KM-DF manufactured by Sanshu Sangyo Co. Ltd., the circulator pump used was a 15GPE6.4 type manufactured by Ebara Corporation, and the line mixer was a static mixer F type manufactured by OHR Laboratory Corporation.

Table 2 explains data, comparing combustion performance of the A-type heavy oil with combustion performances of the samples S1 and S2 of the water-added bio fuel according to the present embodiment. The samples S1 and S2 are different in terms of an elapsed time after producing the water-added bio fuel.

TABLE 2 Water-added Water-added Bio Fuel Bio Fuel Sample S1 Sample S2 A-type (immediately (878 days elapsed Heavy Oil after production) after production) CO₂ Density 19.4% 10.9% 10.7% Soot and Dust 0.0075 g/Nm³ 0.0060 g/Nm³ 0.0061 g/Nm³ Nitrogen 62 ppm 21 ppm 21 ppm Oxide (SOX) Sulfur Oxide 55 ppm 34 ppm 36 ppm (NOX) Combustion 926° C. 981° C. 977° C. Temperature

[Analysis]

As seen from Table 2, it was found that a combustion temperature of the water-added bio fuel of the present embodiment was improved moderately compared to a combustion temperature of the A-type heavy oil. It was also found that the water-added bio fuel remarkably reduced an amount of emission of various environmental pollutants, such as CO₂ being a greenhouse effect gas, soot and dust, nitrogen oxide, sulfur oxide, and so on. Further, regardless of the elapsed times after producing the water-added bio fuel, the samples S1 and S2 exhibited approximately the same value.

It is summarized at least as below from the results of the combustion test.

That is, combustion of the water-added bio fuel by use of a burner boiler is combustion of oil drops of the A-type heavy oil being the fuel oil, and it appears that an air-fuel mixture is made of oxygen in the air and the A-type heavy oil vaporized by physical phenomenon at the surfaces of the A-type heavy oil drops so that combustion is progressed. Water particles included in the water-added bio fuel are applied with radiation heat by this combustion and are heated up. It is considered that secondary atomization of the A-type heavy oil occurs by that the temperature reaches a boiling point to generate micro-explosions one after another and the A-type heavy oil drops surrounding are then made scattered.

As described above, it appears that the A-type heavy oil being the fuel oil is made fine (ultrafine) instantly that therefore has an increased area to contact with air, which leads to a rapid and full combustion, resulting in inhibiting generation of smoke or unburned carbon in combustion exhaust gas. In addition, the increase in the area to contact with air can inhibit an amount of air required for combustion from being excessive and reduce heat to be carried away by exhaust gas, thereby resulting in a large energy-saving effect.

In order to satisfy this condition, it is most important to make water particles fine and disperse the water particles uniformly in fuel oil particles so as to be included in the fuel oil. However, since water particles usually have a relatively large surface tension, it is difficult to make the water particles, for example, down to 20 nm to 40 nm. With conventional emulsion fuel, since it was not possible to make water particles sufficiently fine, the emulsion fuel was emulsified.

Table 3 indicates a comparison of features between the water-added bio fuel of the present embodiment and a conventional emulsion fuel. Regarding emulsion fuels, there are a number of companies even only in Japan that have conducted experiments and research, and such emulsion fuels are easily obtained. Here, one of the emulsion fuels is employed as a comparative example.

TABLE 3 Item Emulsion Fuel Water-added Bio Fuel Water Particle Diameter Micrometer Unit Nanometer Unit Transparency Not Transparent Transparent Fuel and Water Separation Separated Not Separated Storage, Transporting Not possible Possible Combustion Efficiency, Fuel Decreased Not Decreased Economy Combustion Temperature, Decreased Improved Combustion Calorie Influence on Combustion Subject to Not Subject to Engine such as Combustion Corrosion Corrosion Chamber Reignite Having Trouble Possible without Trouble

It appears that, concerning the additive for water-added bio fuel of the present embodiment, a particle diameter of water mixed in the fuel oil can be made fine down to 20 nm to 40 nm. It can be proved that the water particle diameter is in a unit of nanometers, by that the water is made soluble in the A-type heavy oil and the fuel is not emulsified, so that there is not much difference of transparency relative to the A-type heavy oil. Therefore, the water-added bio fuel is not just a mixture of the fuel oil and water and can be made to a state where fine water particles are dispersed uniformly in particles of the A-type heavy oil being fuel oil and where water is soluble and included in the fuel oil.

Further, the size of water particles included in the emulsion fuel is a micrometer unit, and since they can not be made fine down to a nanometer unit, the emulsion fuel is emulsified.

As described above, concerning the water-added bio fuel according to the present embodiment, compared to the emulsion fuel, combustion temperature, combustion efficiency, and combustion calorie are high and fuel economy is not lowered. Further, the fuel oil and water are not emulsified and transparent, and are in the state where the water is included in the fuel oil; therefore, the fuel oil and water are not separated, or do not establish a two-layer structure. Thus, it is possible to store and transport the water-added bio fuel over a long period of time and to reduce influence on a combustion engine, such as corrosion of an apparatus.

[Generator Output Test]

Next, the results of a generator output test of the water-added bio fuel according to the present embodiment will be described hereinafter. In this test, used as a generator was a generator of DCA9OSPH-model (with a generator capacity of 90KVA/220V/60 Hz/236 A/power factor of 0.8) that is located in the Fukuoka sales office of the construction machinery service division of Nishitetsu Techno Service; used as a loading apparatus was an apparatus of LE-125-model located in the aforementioned sales office.

Used as a fuel being a comparative object was A-type heavy oil, which is a raw material of the water-added bio fuel of the present embodiment and is equivalent of a fuel oil used for fishing vessels.

The results are shown in Table 4 below.

TABLE 4 Comparative Example a Embodiment A (JIS A-type Heavy (Water-added Bio Fuel) Oil) Composition A-type 60% A-type 100% Ratio Heavy Oil Heavy Oil Additive 20% Water 20% Load Factor 50% 100%  50% 100% Number of 1796.8 1752.2 1803.6 1770.7 Rotation (rpm) Voltage (V) 220.9 221.0 221.1 221.3 Electric Current 97.4 188.6 97.1 188.1 (A) Operating Time 5 10 5 10 (min)

As shown in Table 4, it was confirmed that when the load factor was 100%, the number of rotation in Embodiment A was slightly lower than the number of rotation in Comparative Example a. With respect to values of electric current, no difference was found between the electric current in Embodiment A and the electric current in Comparative Example a, due to generation of a rated current by an automatic voltage regulator provided in the generator.

Furthermore, with respect to a water-added bio fuel produced by using gas oil, instead of using the A-type heavy oil used in the water-added bio fuel in the aforementioned test, the same generator output test as above was conducted. Here, used as a fuel being a comparative object was gas oil, which is a raw material of the water-added bio fuel.

The results are shown in Table 5 below.

TABLE 5 Embodiment B Comparative (Water-added Example b Bio Fuel) (JIS Gas Oil) Composition Gas Oil 60% Gas Oil 100% Ratio Additive 20% Water 20% Load Factor 50% 100%  50% 100% Number of 1802.5 1758.1 1808.5 1772.9 Rotation (rpm) Voltage (V) 221.3 221.4 221.3 221.4 Electric Current 98.4 188.1 97.2 188.2 (A) Operating Time 5 10 5 10 (min)

As shown in Table 5, it was confirmed that when the load factor was 100%, the number of rotation in Embodiment B was slightly lower than the number of rotation in Comparative Example b. With respect to values of electric current, no difference was found between the electric current in Embodiment B and the electric current in Comparative Example b, due to generation of a rated current by an automatic voltage regulator provided in the generator.

As above, it was confirmed by the generator output test that equivalent outputs can be obtained between the water-added bio fuel (Embodiments A and B) of the present invention and the JIS fuels (Comparative Examples a and b).

The present invention has been described as above; however, the present invention should not be limited to the above-described embodiments. The above-described embodiments are just an example, and any other forms that have substantially the same configuration and exhibit the same operation and effect as those in the technical ideas described in the claims of the present invention shall be included in the technical scope of the present invention. 

1. An additive for water-added bio fuel, the additive comprising: a surface active agent; glycol alcohol; alcohol synthesizable from biomass; and ammonia.
 2. The additive for water-added bio fuel according to claim 1, wherein the ammonia is ammonia water, and wherein a composition of the additive for water-added bio fuel is 55 to 70 parts by weight of the surface active agent, 10 to 15 parts by weight of the glycol alcohol, 15 to 25 parts by weight of the alcohol synthesizable from biomass, and 5.5 to 8.8 parts by weight of the ammonia water (25% solution).
 3. The additive for water-added bio fuel according to claim 1, wherein a composition of the additive for water-added bio fuel is: 55 to 70 parts by weight of the surface active agent; 10 to 15 parts by weight of the glycol alcohol; 15 to 25 parts by weight of the alcohol synthesizable from biomass; and 1.25 to 2.0 liter of the ammonia being dissolved in per 100 g of a solution, the solution being obtained by mixing the 55 to 70 parts by weight of the surface active agent, the 10 to 15 parts by weight of the glycol alcohol, and the 15 to 25 parts by weight of the alcohol synthesizable from biomass.
 4. The additive for water-added bio fuel according to claim 1, wherein the surface active agent is one type or a plurality of types of surface active agents selected from a fatty acid having a carbon number of 16 or more.
 5. The additive for water-added bio fuel according to claim 4, wherein the fatty acid having the carbon number of 16 or more is selected from a group consisting of palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, margaric acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, vaccenic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, eleostearic acid, tuberculostearic acid, arachidic acid, arachidonic acid, behenic acid, lignoceric acid, nervonic acid, cerotic acid, montanoic acid, and melissic acid.
 6. The additive for water-added bio fuel according to claim 1, wherein the glycol alcohol is one type or a plurality of types of glycol alcohols selected from a group consisting of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, and polyethylene glycol.
 7. The additive for water-added bio fuel according to claim 1, wherein the alcohol synthesizable from biomass is one type or a plurality of types of alcohol synthesizable from biomass, the alcohol synthesizable from biomass being selected from a group consisting of ethanol, methanol, propanol, and butanol.
 8. A method of producing an additive for water-added bio fuel, the method comprising steps of: mixing and agitating 55 to 70 parts by weight of a surface active agent, 10 to 15 parts by weight of glycol alcohol, and 15 to 25 parts by weight of alcohol synthesizable from biomass; and adding 5.5 to 8.8 parts by weight of ammonia water (25% solution) into a resulting mixed solution and further agitating and mixing the solution.
 9. A water-added bio fuel obtained such that water and the additive for water-added bio fuel according to claim 1 are combined with a fuel oil, and that a particle of the water is made fine relative to the fuel oil so as to be dispersed and soluble in the fuel oil.
 10. The water-added bio fuel according to claim 9, wherein the fuel oil is one type of fuel oil selected from a group consisting of A-type heavy oil, gasoline, gas oil, lamp oil, kerosene, vegetable oil, and biodiesel fuel.
 11. The water-added bio fuel according to claim 9, wherein a composition of the water-added bio fuel is 58 to 62 parts by weight of the fuel oil, 15 to 20 parts by weight of the additive for water-added bio fuel, and 18 to 27 parts by weight of the water.
 12. A method of producing a water-added bio fuel, the method comprising steps of: mixing and agitating 58 to 62 parts by weight of a fuel oil and 15 to 20 parts by weight of the additive for water-added bio fuel according to claim 1; and adding 18 to 27 parts by weight of water into a resulting mixed solution, and agitating and mixing the solution so as to make the water soluble in the fuel oil. 